Young Scholars Grinchenko – Seton International Journal

Introductory word

2025-08-13T05:08:30+00:00

Russia’s tactics in suppressing Ukraine’s sovereignty

2025-08-10T09:58:08+00:00

Ukraine has long struggled to assert its sovereignty, from World War I to the Holodomor famine under Stalin, and now in its ongoing battle for independence amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, which escalated in February 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Whether through forced starvation or disinformation campaigns, Ukraine has repeatedly been tested, yet it continues to stand resilient. As technology has advanced, so too have Russia’s methods for suppressing Ukraine’s independence. This paper argues that Russia’s suppression of Ukrainian sovereignty has evolved from physical oppression to digital warfare, marking a continuous and adaptive campaign that not only challenges Ukraine’s independence but also the foundations of modern democratic statehood.

A geopolitical puzzle: the rise of Ukrainian nationalism

2025-08-10T10:05:15+00:00

This essay analyzes the progression of Ukrainian nationalism, focusing on the pivotal role of historical context, geopolitical location, former Soviet influence, and modern politics. For centuries, Ukraine has faced the challenge of being geographically located next to the complex country of Russia. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a change in mindset towards a sovereign and nationalistic Ukraine. Following the collapse, key events like the 2014 Euromaidan Revolution of Dignity, the conflict in Donbas, and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine have continued to develop a united and proud Ukraine. Further, the election of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2019 has solidified the nation's commitment to self-determination during the ongoing war. This essay argues that Ukraine's geopolitical challenge of sharing borders with Russia has significantly created a unified national identity.

Resilience in Crimea: the history of the Crimean Tatars

2025-08-10T10:11:11+00:00

This essay explores the history of the Crimean Tatars, from their origins as a Turkic-speaking people in medieval Crimea to their significant political and cultural role under the Crimean Khanate. The impact of Russian imperialism, Soviet repression, forced deportation in 1944, and struggles faced upon their return to Crimea after the collapse of the Soviet Union are examined. The ongoing persecution of the Crimean Tatar community following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 is also discussed, highlighting their resistance to occupation amidst efforts to suppress their language, culture, and political representation. This examination of the ongoing oppression and challenges faced by the Crimean Tatars sheds light on their resilience and the enduring spirit of their proud heritage.

Religion and the Russian - Ukraine War

2025-08-10T10:17:40+00:00

This paper explores the religious dimensions of the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasizing how faith has been used both as a tool of political influence and as a symbol of national identity. It analyzes the split between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Patriarch Kirill’s theological justification for the invasion, and the rapid growth of religious life in Ukraine as a form of resistance.

How it feels to be American

2025-08-10T10:23:11+00:00

I was born free. Nevertheless, I never earned it. My life has been marked by the comfort of living on a quiet street in the suburbs of America, with a loving family, warm dinners, and yearly summer vacations to carefree destinations. A middle-class white 19-year-old girl from New Jersey is now studying as an elementary education major, following in her parents' footsteps. To many, my life is ordinary and predictable. However, in my eyes, I see 250 years of resistance, sacrifice, and progress that those generations before me had built upon.
When I hear "America," I hear country music on the radio, ketchup-covered hot dogs at summer barbecues, and fireworks booming in the sky on the Fourth of July. I see red, white, and blue flags hung proudly on my front porch and folding chairs lined up on the lawn to watch the Memorial Day parade pass. Being American means attending the high school football games on Friday nights and cheering as loudly as possible when you hear "The land of the free, and the home of the brave."

Reflections on the first of the University CORE courses: A journey of transformation and my intended career in nursing

2025-08-10T10:32:38+00:00

We have explored many ideas and made connections to our individual experiences, allowing us to broaden our thinking. We have thoroughly discussed the importance of higher education, even though the components often seem irrelevant to many college students. We have shared our individual opinions about the importance and relevance of higher education, and I have realized that knowledge is power. Success begins with intelligence and an open mind. While not all aspects of college may seem necessary, they prove essential in the future as they provide us with a learned capacity for broad ideas with room for further thought.

My journey as a nursing major has many connections to the real-world application of science and compassion with the human experience. I have discovered a strong link between my future goals in nursing and the ethical, philosophical, and religious subjects we have studied thus far in the course. Plato's Apology and Allegory of the Cave, Msgr. Fahd's Presidential Address, Nostra Aetate, and the Bhagavad Gita are just a few of the texts that have expanded my knowledge of the importance of compassion, empathy, and individual values in the healing process. These concepts highlight the importance of moral integrity, cultural sensitivity, and compassion not only in my future career as a nurse but also in broadening my outlook on the world, which aids in developing my identity as a well-rounded individual.

Potholes and possibilities: a mom’s rough road to success

2025-08-10T10:38:08+00:00

The decision to go back to a place that I previously visited umpteen years ago. Now in my late thirties, I made a choice that many others might believe to be unrealistic, if not impossible. I made this choice because I was determined to pursue my deepest desires. I decided to put myself through college full-time while concurrently being the mother of three children, each possessing a personality distinct from the others. I must attend lectures and make meals, read late into the night, and drop off my children at school; my days are filled with chaos.

Information about the authors

2025-08-10T12:15:36+00:00

Introductory word

2025-08-10T09:48:00+00:00

Zemstvos of Ukrainian provinces in the late 19th – early 20th centuries in the context of the formation of civil society in Ukraine

2025-08-10T09:41:09+00:00

Today, various aspects of the emergence and functioning of civil society have become the subject of detailed study. The relevance of this issue is underscored by the fact that many states, including Ukraine, are undergoing a political transformation from authoritarian to democratic political systems. Local self-government bodies occupy a special place among the institutions that constitute civil society. As a micro-model of civil society, local self-government makes it possible to understand the patterns and contradictions in its development. The involvement of broad population segments in addressing regional issues contributes to individuals’ awareness of civic responsibility, tolerance, and an active civic stance. A society that has mastered the practice of self-governance can develop mechanisms for public oversight of power, realizing the idea of social justice, and ensuring social protection. The level of development of local self-government bodies serves as an indicator of the extent of civil initiatives and the maturity of society. Ukraine has considerable experience in the functioning of local self-government and its development through the advancement of civil society. These very aspects are the focus of this article.

Ethnomusicological research and the search for national identity in Kyiv musical environment in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries

2025-08-10T10:50:37+00:00

The article is dedicated to the issues that arise during the search for national identity in Kyiv in the second half of the 19^th– early 20^thcenturies and the meaning behind the recent interest in traditional music. It describes various expressions of interest in ethnomusicological research in Kyiv and their connection with national movements. The article draws attention to the influence of folk song reproductions and arrangements on listeners and how their meaning varies in concert productions and publishing.

“Register of the entire army” 1649 and the inhabitants of the city of Trypol in the defense of Ukraine

2025-08-10T10:58:59+00:00

For the nation’s historical memory, knowledge about the people involved in historical events is no less critical than memory about these outstanding events. The war led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky in the 17^thcentury shaped the mentality of Ukrainians in defending their native land. It is essential that, along with the names of hetmans and colonels, we remember today, when the war for the future of Ukraine is again underway, it is time to turn to the experience and names of the people who stood in its defense almost four centuries ago. The Register of the Zaporozhian Army of 1649 preserved tens of thousands of surnames of Cossacks, which opens up the opportunity to study the composition of the military formations of the Cossack State at the local level. Research in this direction mainly concerned the supervisors, not the army’s rank and file, which is essential to correct. The subject of our study is the social, professional, and ethnic composition of the Cossack formation (hundreds) according to information from written sources. The primary source of the survey is the Register of the Zaporozhian Army of 1649. Using the example of the Trypol Hundred of the Kyiv Regiment, we will examine the social profile of the city's inhabitants that became its base. Trepol (11^th– 14^thcenturies), later Trypol (15^th– 18^th centuries), is a city and now a village of Trypillya with a vibrant, sometimes tragic, thousand-year history, one of the pages of which was the history of Trypillya Hundred. The article analyzes a list of Cossacks, which includes 171 people. Our analysis is based on the etymology of their surnames. It is the source of our conclusions about their social and professional affiliation. Some surnames probably indicate the ethnicity of their owners. Part of the information is compared with existing research on the Cossacks of that time. We consider this study to be the initial stage of further analysis of the composition and history of the Trypillya Hundred.

Lubny Gymnasium as a center of knowledge, self-awareness and protest in the conditions of the Russian imperial system

2025-08-10T11:22:03+00:00

This paper explores the multifaceted role of the Lubny Men’s Gymnasium within the Russian imperial educational system during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawing upon archival documents, periodicals, and memoir literature, the study focuses on the institution as both an instrument of imperial control and a space of cultural resistance. Special attention is paid to everyday practices, disciplinary structures, and manifestations of civic and national self-awareness among students. Through microhistorical analysis, the paper highlights how gymnasium life shaped identities and encouraged compliance and defiance within the broader context of imperial policies.

Security challenges in the South Asian Region

2025-08-10T11:28:58+00:00

The South Asian Region has become a significant center for security studies, as it has witnessed numerous interstate conflicts, centers of international terrorism, separatism, and political instability, as well as the presence of nuclear-armed states in the region. South Asia represents the growing role of the security factor and the problem of building a regional security system. The study highlights security problems in South Asia, existing mechanisms to counter them, future development prospects, and lessons for Ukraine.

Features of Ukraine’s image in the media space of the French Republic in the pre-war period (1991 – 2013)

2025-08-10T11:37:06+00:00

The article presents a study of the peculiarities of forming Ukraine’s image in France after the declaration of independence in 1991. It describes the key areas influencing the perception of Ukraine in the French media space, including political relations, economic challenges, sports events, and culture. The main characteristics of Ukraine’s representation in the French media are analysed, and the dynamics of their changes are illustrated in the context of internal and foreign political developments.

Ukrainian memes as a means of forming national resilience

2025-08-10T11:44:37+00:00

Modern interstate conflicts unfold not only in the military-political dimension but also in the informational one. The Russian-Ukrainian war is a clear example of a situation in which one party in the conflict uses propaganda resources on a large scale to gain victory over its opponent in its own informational space. At the same time, the Ukrainian internet audience demonstrates resilience to Russian propaganda by using content that, with slight modifications, mimics sources (images, videos, statements, etc.) and spreads massively online – memes. The article aims to define the role of memes that gained popularity among Ukrainian social media users during the Russo-Ukrainian war in shaping national resilience in the fight against Russian disinformation.

The Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in the travel notes of English travelers of the first half of the 19th century

2025-08-10T11:53:57+00:00

In the first half of the 19th century, Kyiv attracted the attention of travelers from different countries. Their travelogues depicted it as a multidimensional phenomenon, harmoniously combining monumental architecture, a rich spiritual life, and a unique social order. Sacred architecture occupied a special place in their perception of the city – it became a lens through which observers comprehended Kyiv's cultural and historical essence. The study of the significance of sacred architecture in shaping the image of the city in travelogues is relevant, as it allows for a better understanding of the cultural heritage of Kyiv and the peculiarities of intercultural dialogue at that time. The study of the representation of Kyiv in travelogues was carried out by various authors who analyzed travelogues as a source of historical and ethnographic information. Foreign researchers paid attention to Kyiv.

German traveler and researcher Johann Georg Kohl and his notes about Ukraine and Lviv

2025-08-10T12:00:29+00:00

Western European Ukrainian studies contain valuable, extensive, and significant information about Ukraine in the works of the German traveler and researcher Johann Georg Kohl (1808 – 1878), who was one of the most famous German travelers, a geographer, and founder of anthropogeography, a writer-researcher, historian-cartographer, and librarian-law scholar.
The outstanding German scholar Johann Georg Kohl, who traveled through Ukraine in the middle of the 19th century, left vivid records for posterity about culture and everyday life, customs and rituals, work and leisure, cultural and everyday relationships, the history and traditions of the Ukrainian people, the economy, commodity production, and trade of Ukraine of that period. All this is valuable for historical science and complements our knowledge of the history of Ukraine in the 19th century.